7 Restaurants to Try in 2014

It’s a new year full of renewed resolutions and anticipations of greatness. While every article out there is boasting about what not to eat this time of year, I’m going to counteract that by telling you where to eat in 2014. So without further ado, here are seven restaurants to try in 2014.

Why :: Redefining comfort food, Mazza’s deeply flavorful dishes will have you savoring spices in a whole new way with their authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. The menu is detailed and descriptive so you won’t feel like an outsider when ordering–or shocked (in the bad way) when your plate arrives. See my full review on Mazza here.Order :: Get the Lamb and Spinach (my favorite go-to dish) or Chicken & Potatoes Mutabbak (pictured above). Don’t forget the twice-fried fries.

Why :: Naked Fish takes Japanese food to a whole new level with their insanely fresh fish, creative presentations and informative staff. And I mean their fish is so fresh, it will taste like nothing you’ve had anywhere else (except maybe the Tsukiji Fish Market in Japan). And if you’re looking for authentic Japanese ramen, hit Naked Fish for lunch, where they focus on ramen and only ramen. See my full review on Naked Fish here.

Order :: Let Chef Sunny take care of you for an omakase at the sushi bar.

Why :: Chef Carter at Silver has a little obsession with two things, pork and whiskey. He’s married the two ingredients in several dishes, which pretty much makes him my hero. His creations are practically art, in both execution and flavor, and the restaurant decor is just as beautiful. It’s more than worth the drive up the canyon to Park City. See my full review on Silver here and fork photos of their winter menu here.

Why :: Eating Peruvian food in a strip mall might sound like the ending of a bad joke, but trust me on this one and you can thank me later. Del Mar serves some of the best ceviche in town (and it arrives flaming, no less). Not to mention their steak is marinated to perfection and Chef Frederick Perez makes this awesomely spicy green sauce and… well, you get the idea. See my full review on Del Mar al Lago here.Order :: The ceviche tasting of three ceviches to get the full idea of what Del Mar is about or the Lomo Saltado, marinated beef with sauteed onion, tomatoes and rice.

Why ::You’ve probably tried Trio’s famous pizzas or had pasta for dinner at one of their two Salt Lake City locations. But if you haven’t been for brunch to try the polenta eggs benedict (called the Eggs Italiano) or breakfast paninis, you’re missing out. Both locations have excellent patios and a staff that allows you to relax, gaze at the mountains and sip your Sunday away with mimosas (that are only $3/each, I might add). See my full review on Brunch at Trio here.

Order ::The Eggs Italiano, Trio’s version of eggs benedict, with sweet Italian sausage.

Why ::Indian food is the new Mexican food; it may be consider “ethnic” these days but it’s hardly exotic because there are a hundred different places serving it up in the city. So the new dilemma is where to go. My solution? Kathmandu. Always. It has the best Indian food in my book and it never, ever fails to deliver the most flavorful punch of spiciness goodness.Order :: The Vegetable Chow Chow (spicy noodles with a whole medley of vegetables, shown at the bottom of the above photo), Lamb Saag or any of their traditional Indian dishes.

Why :: The BTG Wine Bar has suddenly turned into my go-to place for an after work dinner downtown. I wander in with intentions of wine and suddenly a wondrous plate of pasta is in front of me and I’m happier than can be. The BTG serves all of Caffe Molise’s amazing food (thanks to the convenience of their shared owner) and I take full advantage of it whenever I can. The best part about sitting on the bar side is that the servers are less likely to rush you through your meal so another table can take your place. See my full review on the BTG here.

Order :: The Gnocchi di Patate or Pappardelle al Sugo (with pork and beef sauce) are favorites. Whatever you do, don’t forget to order the Dark Chocolate Cake with touch of Cinnamon (pictured above).

Salt Lake City (and Park City) have a never-ending rotation of great restaurants to dine in these days. It was only a few years ago that I found myself repeating the same place every weekend for lack of anywhere else to go. Now there aren’t enough days to eat at all the places I want! Where do you want to eat in 2014?

Hi, I'm Kelli Nakagama! Welcome to Random Acts of Kelliness, a food and travel blog based in Chicago. I'm a Chicago addict, food fanatic,
opera aficionado, and whiskey enthusiast with a series case of wanderlust.